Design Director - Retail

Role overview

Key responsibilities

• Lead design from strategic briefing and concept through detailed design and project completion.
• Manage multidisciplinary design consultants, architects, engineers, and specialist teams.
• Oversee retail planning, customer circulation, placemaking, and destination design.
• Coordinate design requirements with development, leasing, and operational stakeholders.
• Manage design quality, technical coordination, value engineering, and regulatory approvals.
• Oversee anchor tenant requirements, retail fit-out interfaces, and design integration.
• Align design outcomes with commercial objectives, budgets, and project programmes.

Candidate requirements

• Minimum 12–15 years of experience in architectural design leadership or design management.
• Significant retail design experience is essential, particularly across shopping centres, retail destinations, and retail-led mixed-use developments.
• Strong understanding of retail planning, tenant requirements, customer experience, and commercial design considerations.
• Proven experience managing large-scale developments through all design stages.
• Developer or leading design consultancy experience preferred.
• UAE/GCC experience advantageous.
• Candidates must demonstrate experience in major retail design projects.

Application

• The employer invites candidates to get in touch for a confidential discussion or share a CV.